Engr. Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), on Tuesday issued a robust defense against allegations leveled by billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote, denying claims of corruption and inviting full investigations into his finances and tenure.

In a detailed statement titled “A Question of Integrity,” Ahmed described the accusations—centered on the alleged $5 million spent on his children’s secondary education in Switzerland—as misleading and timed to coincide with NMDPRA’s enforcement of stricter quality standards and transparent practices in the petroleum sector.

Ahmed recounted his 34-year career in Nigeria’s petroleum industry, starting as a junior engineer in 1991 and rising through merit to his current role in 2021, with a mandate to implement reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

He emphasized that his decisions have always prioritized national interest, even when creating friction with powerful stakeholders resistant to transparency in licensing, pricing, and supply chains.

Addressing the core allegation directly, Ahmed stated that three of his four children received merit-based scholarships covering 40-65% of tuition costs, while additional support came from education trust funds established by his late father—a Northern Nigerian businessman—before his passing in 2018.

Combined with his legitimate savings from decades of civil service, cooperative investments available to public servants, and his publicly disclosed annual compensation of approximately ₦48 million (including allowances), Ahmed asserted that the expenses were fully consistent with his means and required no illicit funds.

He noted that foreign schools only accept legitimately earned payments, and authorized all attended institutions to release financial records to authorized Nigerian investigators.

Ahmed linked the timing of the claims to recent NMDPRA actions, including revealing substandard products in the market and approving import licenses for Q1 2026 to ensure supply security and prevent scarcity, as mandated by Section 7 of the PIA.

He rejected characterizations of these approvals as “economic sabotage,” arguing that relying on a single-source supply—regardless of ownership—poses vulnerabilities, and that diversified imports protect consumers.

The NMDPRA chief made no apologies for upholding regulatory independence, stating: “I will not be intimidated into abandoning statutory duties or granting preferential treatment to any entity, regardless of their economic power or media reach.”

In a direct challenge, Ahmed formally requested probes by the Code of Conduct Bureau (reviewing his asset declarations since 1991), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (examining all transactions), and the National Assembly (oversight on regulatory allegations).

He pledged full cooperation, including providing documentation and testifying under oath, stipulating only that investigations be professional and free from commercial influence.Concluding, Ahmed reaffirmed his commitment to reforms—transparency in licensing, quality assurance, and supply integrity—despite the “price of principle,” expressing confidence that thorough scrutiny would vindicate his record.

The statement comes amid escalating tensions between Dangote Refinery and NMDPRA over import licenses, with Dangote accusing the regulator of undermining local refining by allowing imports despite domestic capacity.

Dangote has detailed the education allegations in paid advertisements and petitions to anti-corruption agencies, questioning how a public servant could afford such expenditures.

Civil society groups have split, with some defending Ahmed’s independence and others calling for his suspension pending investigation.

The House of Representatives has summoned both parties to address the rift and its implications for Nigeria’s downstream sector.

•Senator Godswill Akpabio

By Anietie Ekong

Over the weekend the internet was abuzz with the “news” that the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio had suddenly collapsed, rushed in an air ambulance and flown to London where he was admitted into the intensive care unit of an unnamed London hospital.

They claimed he was battling for his life in London.

Those who peddled this rumour and obviously fake news could swear that they saw when the Senate President allegedly collapsed while others said they heard it from their “sources” in London.

Indeed the rumours about Akpabio’s health status has become a periodic pastime and an industry of its own.

Two years ago, immediately after a colloquium at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, with President Bola Tinubu in attendance, to mark his 61st birthday, the same rumour mill took over: Senator Akpabio had collapsed and was rushed to London.

The following day, it became like a miracle that the same man they claimed was receiving treatment in London, showed up and met with the Senate Press Corps. The rumour died down, albeit temporarily.

Few months back the same narrative was reinvented by people whose only job is being authority of fake news concerning the health status of Senator Akpabio. Again they said he was hospitalzed in London.

Live videos with fellow Senators could not convince the doubting Thomases that Senator Akpabio was hale and hearty until his return to Nigeria few days later.Then the last weekend episode.

The peddlers of these fake news are not even creative. Same story, same narrative: Akpabio had collapsed and was rushed to the hospital in London. How many times does Akpabio have to collapse and rushed to London in a year?

As with everything Akpabio, bloggers jumped into the fray to drive traffic to their social media pages, and earn some dollars in the process.

When the “news” first filtered in, I wondered who they were talking about. Was it the same Godswill Akpabio, my boss, whom I had had a long chat with on Friday night cum Saturday morning or was it someone else? Was he chatting with me from the intensive care unit of the London hospital?

The most dangerous of these fake news carriers are those who repost the “news” with their fake sympathy: “Pray for Akpabio”, “I wish him quick recovery,” “Nothing must happen to Akpabio.” “May God heal him.”

In the voice of Chief Nyesom Wike: fake, fake, fake.

As with everything Akpabio, bloggers jumped into the fray to drive traffic to their social media pages, and earn some dollars in the process.

They did live videos and one even said Akpabio had “kpai” in London.

I had only one word for Journalists who reached out to me to “confirm” this story: don’t take my denial for it, wait till Tuesday and see who would preside over the Senate plenary.

Then on the first legislative sitting day of the week, the same man they claimed was battling for his life in an intensive care unit of a hospital showed up and presided over an extended plenary that lasted well into the evening, where major decisions were taken by the Senate without showing any signs of distress.

With these kind of satanic rumours and fake news, how can someone argue against the regulation of the social media to prevent the anguish these cousins of the devils bring to people and their families through peddling and sharing fake news.

The fake news carriers never said never. As early as tomorrow they can cook another one again.We wait till the next episode.

The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday resolved to mandate the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and the Department of State Services (DSS) to thoroughly investigate and take appropriate action against individuals spreading false death rumours about Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd.).

The decision followed a point of order raised during plenary by Senator Titus Zam (APC, Benue North-West), who condemned the viral social media reports claiming that Akpabio had collapsed and died in a London hospital.

Zam highlighted that such misinformation was not only false but damaging to Nigeria’s image, especially as Akpabio was actively presiding over the session.

Zam also referenced a recent similar hoax targeting Gowon, noting that rumours of the former leader’s death circulated even as he attended a public event, such as a Christmas carol service.

Presiding over the plenary, Senate President Akpabio sustained the point of order, describing the trend of fake death reports as disturbing and increasingly common among prominent Nigerians, including politicians and businessmen.

He emphasised the challenges of regulating social media content, likening it to “garbage in, garbage out,” but stressed the need for security agencies to trace the origins of such falsehoods.

“Is it the view of the Senate that this matter be referred to the National Security Adviser and the DSS to investigate?”

Akpabio asked, before putting the motion to a voice vote, which received unanimous support from senators.

The resolution calls for a probe into the promoters of the rumours, with potential sanctions to deter future incidents.

This comes amid growing concerns over misinformation on digital platforms targeting high-profile figures.